Co-Production, Lived Experience & Advocacy
Co-Production, Lived Experience & Advocacy
Co-production is more than consultation. When it is done well, people with lived experience shape the design, delivery and evaluation of the services they use. DCC-i is here for individual practitioners and for organisations committed to genuine partnership.
Why co-production and lived experience CPD matters
The gap between co-production as a principle and co-production as a practice is significant. Most practitioners and organisations are committed to involving people in their own care. Fewer have the tools, frameworks and confidence to do genuine co-production: to genuinely share power, to centre lived experience in service design, and to advocate alongside rather than on behalf of the people they support.
Individual practitioners get access to the DCC-i practice library: co-production frameworks, advocacy practice resources, rights-based tools and lived experience perspectives to use in their own time and in supervision. Organisations get live CPD training sessions built around the real challenges of embedding co-production in statutory and voluntary sector practice, plus library access so the work continues after the training day.
Every resource is built in genuine partnership with people who have used services, worked as advocates and contributed to the design of social care systems. The learning is honest about the gap between the principle and the practice, and gives practitioners real tools to close it.
DCC-i CPD
CPD Provider
PCF domains 1, 2, 3 and 6. KSS for social workers in adult settings. Care Act 2014 wellbeing and personalisation duties. Human Rights Act 1998.
Featured interactive tools in this practice area
Tools and resources covering co-production, advocacy, rights-based practice, lived experience approaches and supported decision-making. Available individually and included in organisation packages.
Co-Production Tools
Frameworks and planning tools for embedding genuine co-production in assessment, care planning, service design and review. Going beyond consultation into real partnership.
Advocacy Practice
Resources covering independent advocacy, professional advocacy and the practitioner's role in supporting people to have their voice heard. Including scenarios and reflective exercises.
Rights-Based Approaches
Tools for applying rights-based thinking in social care practice. The Social Model of Disability, human rights in care settings and what it means to operate from a rights-based rather than risk-management starting point.
Lived Experience Perspectives
Learning resources built directly with people who have used services. Honest, specific accounts of what co-production, advocacy and genuine partnership look like from the perspective of the people practitioners support.
Practice Reflection
Reflective exercises exploring power dynamics in professional relationships, the ethics of advocacy and what genuine partnership requires of practitioners in statutory roles.
Practice Conversations
Team discussion tools for co-production workshops, including the Co-Production Planning Scenario and group frameworks for examining organisational barriers to genuine partnership.
Individual access includes interactive tools and resources. Organisation packages can include live training, team access and enhanced Silver and Gold library options. Find the right access for you →
A resource library you come back to
The resource library gives practitioners somewhere to return when an adult safeguarding case raises a question. It brings together guidance, frameworks, articles, checklists, templates, practice examples, reflection resources and research summaries for self-neglect, Section 42 enquiries, professional curiosity, disguised compliance and complex safeguarding practice. Individual practitioners can revisit resources in their own time. Organisations with enhanced Silver and Gold library options can use them alongside live CPD to support supervision, team learning and reflective practice after the session ends.
Before an assessment or decision
Revisit guidance, frameworks, checklists and templates before recording a decision, preparing for an assessment or thinking through a complex self-neglect concern.
During supervision
Use reflection resources, practice examples and research summaries to explore uncertainty, professional curiosity, disguised compliance and the reasoning behind adult safeguarding decisions.
In a team discussion
Use articles, case materials and discussion resources to support shared learning about risk, Section 42 enquiries, safeguarding thresholds and complex practice dilemmas.
Adult safeguarding CPD for individuals, teams and organisations
Whether you are an ASYE practitioner encountering your first safeguarding enquiry, a qualified social worker managing complex Section 42 cases, an AMHP or BIA navigating multi-agency risk, or a safeguarding lead supporting reflective decision-making across a team, this practice area is designed to support confident, defensible adult safeguarding practice.
Designed for practitioners and teams across
For individual practitioners
Use interactive tools, decision simulators, case scenarios and reflective resources in your own time, at your own pace. This is for practitioners who want to strengthen their safeguarding reasoning, prepare for supervision, revisit a complex self-neglect situation, or build confidence in threshold decisions and recording.
- Interactive tools and decision simulators
- Self-neglect, risk and professional curiosity resources
- Case scenarios and reflection prompts
- Supervision and CPD record support
- Free during the pilot phase
For organisations and workforce teams
Bring adult safeguarding CPD into your team through live, interactive training and structured practice resources. Organisation packages support local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations, charities and independent sector organisations to build shared confidence around risk, safeguarding thresholds, Section 42 enquiries and defensible decision-making.
- Live CPD training sessions for teams
- Workforce learning around risk, self-neglect and safeguarding duties
- Team discussion, supervision and practice reflection resources
- Bronze, Silver and Gold package options
- Enhanced Silver and Gold library options
Not sure which route fits? Individual access is designed for self-directed CPD. Organisation packages are designed for team learning, workforce development and commissioned training.
What this adult safeguarding CPD helps you develop
- Apply co-production principles meaningfully in assessment, care planning and review
- Support people to access and use independent and professional advocacy
- Operate from a rights-based rather than risk-management starting point
- Draw on lived experience perspectives to improve your practice and challenge assumptions
- Navigate power dynamics in professional relationships with honesty and integrity
- Use co-production frameworks in service design and evaluation contexts
"My only wish is that we had another day to discuss everything as there were so many discussion points. The trainers were skilled in facilitating debate. I felt our cohort was treated with respect and sensitivity."
Delegate, DCC-i Co-Production and Lived Experience Programme
Questions practitioners bring to safeguarding CPD
DCC-i offers co-production frameworks, advocacy practice resources, rights-based tools, lived experience learning materials and practice reflection exercises. Individual practitioners access the practice library. Organisations get live CPD sessions plus library access for their teams.
Co-production is an approach where people who use services are equal partners in the design, delivery and evaluation of those services. It goes beyond consultation to genuine shared power and partnership. DCC-i CPD explores both the principles and the practical barriers to co-production in statutory social care contexts.
Yes. All DCC-i co-production and lived experience CPD is built in genuine partnership with people who have used services, worked as advocates and contributed to the design of social care systems. This shapes the content and ensures the learning is honest about the gap between principle and practice.
Yes. The co-production pillar includes resources on independent advocacy, the practitioner's role in supporting people to access advocacy, and professional advocacy in statutory settings.
Yes. DCC-i is a BASW Approved CPD Provider. Our co-production, lived experience and advocacy training is aligned to BASW professional standards and the PCF.
Yes. DCC-i organisation packages include live CPD for teams of any size. We also specialise in bespoke co-production programmes tailored to your organisational context and workforce development priorities.
The learning continues in practice
Access interactive tools, resource library materials and reflective CPD support for adult safeguarding, self-neglect and complex decision-making. Use them in your own time, or bring DCC-i live CPD and workforce support into your organisation.
View the CPD catalogue →